Improvement in water-wheels



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J. C. SMITH, OF MAHANOY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 90,468, dated Ma/y 25, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WHEELS.

lThe Schedule referred to 1n these Letters Patent and making part ofthe same.

To all whom 'it' may concern:

Be it known that I, J. O. SMITH, of Mahanoy, in the countyof Northumberland, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a 'new and improved Water-Wheel and I do hereby declare that the following isla full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, rei'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, forming partof this specification.

My improved wheel is similar in its construction, and the mode of its operation, to the wheels patented by D. Andrews, Andrews and Kalbach, and Hoag and Smith, the same being dated and numbered', respectively, as follows z' March 8, 1859, No.23,144; August 30, 1859, No 25,237 (reissued January 14, 1862;) and April 1, 1862, No. 34,832.

'It differs from the wheels just mentioned, as also from any other horizontal wheel with upper discharge, chiefly in the form of its buckets.

The wheelis mounted on a spiral chute, or waterway, and enclosed in a suitable casing. 'lhe water enters the wheel through the spiral water-way, and, issuing at the top of the wheel, escapes, through the space between the wheel and the casing, into the tail-race.

Figure 1 shows a bottom view of the wheel, the curves indicating the shape of the buckets at their lower ends, where the water from the spiral water-way strikes them; y

Figure 2 shows a top view of the wheel, the radial lines indicating the shape of the buckets at their upper ends, where the water leaves them;

Figure 3 represents an elevation of my improved wheel, as mounted above the spiral water-way, and enclosed in the casing; and

Figure 4 represents a plan of the water-way and casing.

Similar letters of reference parts.

The buckets are placed at equal distances round a circular hub, in such a manner, that the water flowing up thespiral water-way, shall strike them at right ang1es,`or nearly so.

The bottom edges of the buckets extend from the hub in radial lines, about one-third--their lengths, and then change into-curves, as they approach the periphery.

indicate corresponding This shape of the buckets at their lower ends remains nearly the same as far up as the water from the spiral chute can exert a direct action upon the buckets.

The buckets so shapedat their lower ends, oier an inclined plane, against which the water can act,'not only in the direction of the wheels motion, but also in a tangential direction, into which it is forced by its cir. cular passage and the centrifugal force.

As there is no force by which the water is driven toward the hub, there is not only no need of any curves or inclined planes there, as are found iu Andrews and Kalbachs wheel, and Hoag and Smiths wheel, but they are disadvantageous to the well-working of the wheel, inasmuch as they tend to assist the centrifugal Vforce in driving the water from the hub toward the periphery.

The top edges of the buckets are radial lines, which are extended some distance into the thickness of the outerrim, by means of a wedge-shaped piece cut from the inner side of the lim, in a line tangential to a point on theY rim some distance back from the issue-aperture.

The reason for this shape of the buckets at their upper ends is to give the water a free discharge from the wheel, to diminish friction, and to lengthen' the arms of the lever, upon which the water reacts, without rev tarding the motion of the wheel, and thereby to give additional power to the wheel.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentfr Spiral buckets, whose bottom edges extend in radial lines from the hub, about one-third their lengths, and

then change into curves as they approach the periphery, and whose top edges are radial lines, the length of wl'ich exceedsthe radial length of the bottom edges, in proportion to the thickness of the wedge-shaped piece cut from the inner side of the outer rim, as de# scribed.

J. C. SMITH.

Witnesses z EDGAR SMITH, J ons Munn. 

